The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, has called on President Bola Tinubu to expedite action on the new national minimum wage for workers.
Mr Ibeji Nwokoma, NAAT President, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Nwokoma said the union was worried over the continuous delay by the President in transmitting the new National Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly.
“NAAT, as an affiliate of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), stands by the position of organised labour and calls on the federal government to expedite action on the matter to avoid industrial action,” he said.
He said the union condemned in strong terms, the unpatriotic position of State Governors claiming inability to pay even the N62,000 proposed by the federal government, though, rejected by the organised labour.
“The refusal of the Governors Forum to recognise the efforts of workers in creating wealth and prosperity in the states and the country in general, is most unfortunate.
“This undermines the essence and model adopted for national minimum wage. We therefore, demand that the Governors Forum should reconsider the position and toe the path of honour.
“The proposal by the governors to pay minimum wage based on their peculiarities is condemnable and rejected in its entirety,” he said.
He stressed that the constitutional provisions on minimum wage are contained in the exclusive legislative list.
The NAAT president also called on the federal government, to immediately implement the payment of the withheld salaries of its members and the resolutions of all other outstanding issues.
“NAAT is compelled to issue this press statement as a response to the non-payment of five and half months withheld salaries, non-payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increment arrears.
“Other issues are the non-payment of Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowance arrears, and the release of enabling circulars for CONTISS 14 and 15.
“Also, the non-release of arrears of Earned Allowances as contained in Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) of 2020, 2021 and 2022,” he said.
(NAN)
NDLEA foils syndicate plots to export cocaine, opioids to US, UK
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted various quantities of cocaine and opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, and ketamine injection, among others.
These drugs were concealed in the soles of shoes, clothes, and other items being shipped to the United States, United Kingdom, and Cyprus by a syndicate.
While no less than 250 grams of cocaine destined for Cyprus was hidden in the soles of custom-made shoes, over five kilograms of opioids heading to the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) in clothes and other household items meant to be shipped through some courier firms in Lagos.
The agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated, “In the same vein, a consignment of 440 grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis coming from Canada to Lagos, was equally intercepted by operatives in one of the logistic companies.”
The luggage of one of the occupants, Aminu Abdullahi, 32, was searched and found to contain custard containers where 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were buried in the custard powder. The suspect claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra state, and he was taking them to the Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to sell.
With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities over the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lectures for students of St. Louis Grammar School Senior, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo state; students and staff of Infant Jesus Model Secondary School, Oron, Akwa Ibom state; and students and teachers of Ede High School, Ede, Osun state. Others are students of Government Day Secondary School, Kalga Gari, Daura, Katsina state; and students of Rehoboth Secondary School, Okpuno Awka, Anambra state, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the Edo, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Lagos, and FCT Commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures.
